Thursday, October 27, 2011
Mark 16:16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned."
THE PROMISE IN BAPTISM
In Luther's day the Roman Catholic Church taught that Jesus didn't do enough on the cross to save sinners from hell. They taught that a sinner had to perform other good deeds in order to cancel out their daily sins.
This way of teaching was not only false according to the Bible, it also can lead people to view the Lord's Supper and Baptism as things that we do for God, good works we give TO HIM, instead of what these things really are, gifts FROM GOD which create and strengthen trust in Jesus.
In a pamphlet called, "On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church" Luther talked about Baptism saying:
"The first thing then we have to notice in baptism is the divine promise, which says: He who believes and is baptized shall be saved. This promise is to be infinitely preferred to the whole display of works, vows, religious orders, and whatever has been introduced by the invention of man. On this promise depends our whole salvation, and we must take heed to exercise faith in it, not doubting at all that we are saved, since we have been baptized.
"We see then how rich a Christian, or baptized man, is; since, even if he would, he cannot lose his salvation by any sins however great, unless he refuses to believe; for no sins whatever can condemn him, but unbelief alone. All other sins, if faith in the divine promise made to the baptized man stands firm or is restored, are swallowed up in a moment through that same faith ..."
Luther also stressed that Baptism doesn't save the person who later pushes Christ away through unbelief. It isn't a magical ceremony that saves apart from Jesus' cross. It seems obvious, but I'll say it anyway: Baptism doesn't save apart from faith in the Savior.
Once again, Luther just says what the Bible says. No new and clever teachings, just the plain, old, trustworthy Word of God.
